Empire

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Empire (帝国) 36
Alias(es)	Florian Empire; Flor Empire 71 477
Occupation/Role	The sole empire on Norris Continent; a major human political and military power 152
Status	Active 1026
First Appearance	Chapter 36: Count and Assassin 36

History

Origins and early development

The Empire is ruled by the Columbus Imperial Family. Its line assumed the imperial throne after Lais Enric refused the title of Emperor, allowing Columbus Enric to become Columbus I. 693

According to the Empire's founding tradition, the ancestor of the Columbus family bore the will of the Lord of Dawn and received power to resist incursions from The North. His followers—including the ancestors of the four Grand Duke families, commoners, and slaves—became knights and fought alongside him. 477

The War of the Deities Across Planes, approximately 130–140 years before the later events, reshaped the Empire. In its aftermath, the distinction between free people and slaves became formalized; free people could no longer be arbitrarily killed, even if nobles retained substantial control over them. 563

After breaking from the Papacy's influence, the Empire replaced divine institutions with state-controlled extraordinary training. It founded the Imperial Academy of Magic and the Knight Academy in the Imperial Capital, recruiting talented commoners and increasing the Empire's overall strength by nearly ten percent. 152

Rise of imperial authority

The Empire developed into a state where feudal noble power and imperial authority coexist. Its Emperor and four Grand Dukes form its core political foundation, to the extent that contemporaries describe the Empire as having “five emperors.” 518 746

Its rulers repeatedly sought to centralize military, religious, and economic authority:

• The Royal Family took control of the Church of Light and used the Miracle of Light in an effort to unite royal and divine authority under the Emperor. 457
• Emperor Columbus III reduced the independence of lesser nobles by making them dependent on imperial appointments, resources, and military positions. 680 681
• Emperor Volvo Columbus IV introduced trade permits intended to redirect merchant guilds from serving nobles to serving the Empire. 714
• Columbus IV later ordered a comprehensive survey of imperial resources to clarify the boundary between imperial and noble property. 884

Government and society

Institution / Group	Position within the Empire
Emperor	Holds supreme royal authority and seeks control over military, religious, and economic affairs. Columbus emperors may gain Legendary power upon ascending the throne. 680 807
Four Grand Dukes	The Empire's most powerful noble houses and essential political counterweights to the Emperor. 518 746
Electors	Royal claimants whose factions can contest imperial succession; Volvo and Floyd were prominent rivals after Columbus III's death. 690 707
Council of Elders	A body largely composed of Royal Family members after revisions to the Marquis system; it later resumed operations in the Imperial Capital under Floyd's authority. 686 922
Minor nobles	Often possess small, poor territories and rely on imperial military service or appointments to sustain their families. 314
Commoners and slaves	The Empire recognizes a legal distinction between the two, although slavery remains widespread and nobles retain extensive social power. 563

Military

Imperial forces

The Empire fields centralized armies commanded by imperial authority, with nobles commonly serving as officers. Its military wealth, magical infrastructure, and accumulated extraordinary heritage allow it to maintain major fortresses and resist threats that once required the combined strength of human civilization. 563 701

Known imperial military assets include:

• Extraordinary Legions — knight-based elite legions whose strength does not diminish merely because they fight beyond imperial territory. 607
• Imperial First Legion — formed through the transfer of military power away from individual nobles; later Imperial Second and Third Legions were anticipated. 805
• Mage Corps — deployed in major wars to establish barriers, enhance soldiers with Life Magic, and counter divine forces. 917
• Wyvern Legion and Rampaging Elephant Legion — Extraordinary Legions belonging to the Empire itself rather than an individual noble. 563
• Templar Knight Legion — retained in the Imperial Capital as a reserve against possible southern war. 393

Northern defense

The Empire's northern provinces form humanity's principal barrier against The North. A prior full-scale Orc invasion devastated five northern provinces and nearly reached the Imperial Capital before a continent-wide human force drove the Orcs back. 356

During the later Orc migration, the Empire mobilized resources toward Twilight Province and ordered nobles to reinforce the northern front. Its centralized defenses and expenditure slowed the Orc advance, though southern armies struggled with the climate and terrain. 679 701

Northwind Province was incorporated into Imperial territory roughly three decades earlier, but received little sustained imperial administration or military presence during much of that period. 670 885

Major conflicts and political developments

Period	Events
Conflict with the Papacy	The Empire's struggle against divine authority led to the Papacy's withdrawal from much of its territory and the rise of the Church of Light under royal influence. 152 457
Andara Kingdom intervention	The Empire treated Andara as a northern buffer and supporter against the Church of Dawn, dispatching troops to its defensive line and supporting its royal family. 369 526
War of Annihilation against Carlos	The Empire promised its nobles half of the Carlos Kingdom's land, drawing Wandering Nobles into a campaign intended to destroy Carlos and weaken the Church of Dawn. 550 559
Treaty of Nantes Kingdom	After warfare destabilized Nantes and the Iron Eagle Kingdom, the Empire and Papacy signed an unsatisfactory nine-clause treaty. 614
Death of Columbus III	The Emperor's death under Divine Punishment triggered a succession crisis and intensified the Empire's hostility toward the Church of Dawn. 687 690
Volvo's reign	Volvo became Emperor and pursued economic centralization, military reform, and greater control over noble resources. 714 805
Death of Columbus IV	Columbus IV's sudden death created another power vacuum; the Grand Dukes and nobles swore vengeance against the Church of Dawn. 893
Floyd's southern campaign	Floyd led imperial forces against the Church of Dawn at Dragon Bone Valley, where the Mage Corps and Extraordinary Legions helped secure a major victory. 917 920
Military merit reforms	Following Ryan's victory over The Woodlands, the Empire granted him command authority in the North and advanced a new military-merit system that rewarded soldiers and nobles for service. 1025 1026

Economy and reforms

The Empire's economic structure traditionally centered on noble territories and merchant guilds. Minor nobles functioned as producers, while powerful nobles controlled larger-scale trade and the Emperor collected taxes. 714

Volvo's trade-permit policy attempted to formalize this arrangement under imperial supervision:

• Minor nobles would produce commodities.
• Great nobles would conduct trade.
• The Empire and Emperor would collect taxes from the system. 714

Imperial reforms also used war and expansion to manage noble competition. New lands, military positions, and command authority offered outlets for noble ambition while reducing the independent power of smaller lords. 805 1026

Relations

• Church of Dawn / Papacy — Long-term religious and political rival. The Empire's wars against the Church centered on the struggle between royal authority and divine authority. 152 750
• Church of Light — Religious institution increasingly placed under Imperial and Royal Family control; emperors sought to wield its authority alongside imperial power. 457 809
• Andara Kingdom — Northern client and ally regarded as an important buffer against The North and a visible supporter of the Empire against the Church of Dawn. 71 526
• Northwind Province — Imperial frontier province facing repeated Orc incursions; its nobles and forces became increasingly important to northern defense. 670 681
• Four Grand Duke families — Necessary pillars of imperial power, but also recurring political rivals whose support determines the Emperor's ability to centralize authority. 518 884
• Northern Military Council — A northern alliance coordinated by Ryan that became active in supporting the anti-Orc war after Columbus III's death. 687 688
• The Woodlands — Declared war on the Empire during the continuing conflict with the Church of Dawn, opening an additional front against Imperial interests. 933